My friends in Celtic, on Sunday we will gather to watch the league flag fly high above Celtic Park, the Scottish Cup is on display in the boardroom and in six weeks we will be among the first fans to watch the new Champions League format get underway.
Financially, things have literally never been better. A year ago, our net cash position was £72m, aided by the ridiculously inflated price achieved for Jota (love him lots but never a £25m player). Since then, we have banked Champions League money and the bounty from the best commercial deals in the land. We have known worse.
Despite the welcome permanent signing of Paulo Bernardo yesterday, at this stage of the transfer window, we are weaker than we were at the end of the season. There is a substitute striker shaped hole in the squad, which Adam Idah is doing his best to fill. For the (very) hard of thinking, let’s remind ourselves:
You can sign any old rubbish early in the window (with a few exceptions), but clubs who own players in demand do not sell until late August. If you are in doubt, think of Matt O’Riley, who is clearly wanted by clubs in England and Italy, but there is no amount of money Celtic would be prepared to accept until late in the window AND they have backfill. This is how transfer windows work, the whole world knows it, so let’s not pretend we are new to the game.
One year ago, Celtic were hot favourites to win the league. They had just successfully retained their title, had money in the bank with no Champions League qualification worries. After three years which saw a league title, a Europa League final and Champions League participation, our only challengers, Newco, were back in crisis mode.
Michael Beale was sacked in October as their season fell apart. What should have been a procession to Celtic’s third successive title, turned into a mishandled campaign. Our disintegration on the park was so evident, by February I was convinced we would lose the league (don’t think I mentioned that here at the time).
History is the tale of fine margins. Philippe Clement steadied Newco and overturned Celtic’s lead in the table, but the steam escaped from his engine on a field in Dingwall in April. It was a stupid result the like of which Celtic endured earlier in the campaign, but Clement’s ability to push his squad had expired. For Celtic, this was an enormous break.
That campaign is a lesson for anyone who believes we are a shoo-in for four-in-a-row. A few injuries (you can bet we will get them) and a failure to successfully develop supporting players (you can bet……), and we could be plunged into trouble again.
It is popular to poke fun at Clement, but he is a far better manager than Beale, Gerrard or McCoist (who was hopeless). If he stays in Glasgow, he will build his own team and put proper pressure on Brendan, even with a budget which is likely to be significantly below ours.
Our budget and development strategy was easy to ascertain for a long time; not so much now. That £72m net cash position we reported a year ago is likely to be dwarfed when the figures for the year to June 2024 are released; I expect at least £10m on top of that.
When our old pal Peter Lawwell was in charge, he lived to the motto, “Every penny that comes in will be spent over any business cycle you care to mention” – and they still complained! Peter lived at the sharp end of football and once told me, “When people give you money, there is an expectation you will spend it.”
Let’s be clear, having lots of money in the bank is a great thing for a football club; if the tables were turned, you and I would be distraught at the comparison across the city. But that expectation Peter Lawwell talked about remains. Celtic are a football club who have a duty to invest appropriately in football stock.
How we invest is also important. The model which found and developed Matt O’Riley and which works for so many aspiring clubs in Europe, is without question the way forward. Alternative models, where clubs buy players at their peak, earning big wages and without scope to appreciate in value, is full of short-term gain but has zero strategic benefit.
We should also acknowledge a harsh fact. Great managers, though Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rogers were for us, the last Celtic boss who achieved anything in Europe was Neil Lennon. Celtic are in the Champions League again this season because our coefficient monkeys across the city did very well in Europe for three successive seasons.
I expect we are now at the end of that cycle and Scotland’s coefficient will drop for a period. This will make Champions League income less likely, irrespective of what money we spend or signing strategy we follow.
Our board can expect a peak cash position next summer. Their challenge is to take what is unquestionably an embarrassment of riches, and develop the team and facilities in a manner which grows the top line.
If you think that’s easy, I suggest there is a peak on the Dunning Kruger chart for you. Players competitively valued in the £10m bracket (i.e. by others in the market, not just by Norwich City), tend to have lots of options, usually a few better than the Scottish Premiership. They also have pay offers which would blow apart Celtic’s wage structure. Having all that cash guarantees you nothing.
There are other calls on our resources. Celtic Park is a 20th century stadium and we are already a quarter of the way through the 21st century. Football fans tolerance has changed over the generations. Consumer expectations in the middle of this century will be miles ahead of what we currently call home.
I would like to see a 20-year plan to redevelop Celtic Park. Turnstiles should be at the edge of the footprint, not at the stadium. Fans arrive at the ground early as it is, even without anything to do, but we should get them through the gates and into restaurants, cafes, shops and bars. Not just merchandise shops either.
The South and North stands are poor. Hundreds of office staff work in the South Stand, all office business should be relocated to Barrowfield or another area of the footprint. We are a football club which is short of premium seating area. There is a huge space which can be used for premium seating area right beside where the fans sit. Make it happen, or at the very least, tell us why such a move does not offer a return on investment.
I am more familiar with the North Stand. The top deck has fewer facilities than anywhere else in the stadium. It is also the highest part of the ground and on a warm day like Sunday, the wind will cut you in two. The premium seating area is too small to walk around, never mind properly dispense food.
This stand overhangs the Eastern Necropolis and Janefield St. Before Celtic Park was redeveloped in 1994, Janefield St was a mixed residential and commercial road. Celtic were required to keep it open for traffic. Now Celtic Park is the only property on the street and the road is a local rat-run outside of match days. The whole area should be redeveloped.
I have no idea what it is possible to do in or over the cemetery, but if there is nothing more can be done, we have to acknowledge that the North Stand Upper is under-provided for and price it accordingly. We need more premium seats (South Stand) but we will always need cheap seats. Celtic have to cater for those who cannot afford expensive days out.
If we struggle to attract players to Scotland, I am sure the support would get behind a plan to upgrade our facilities and prepare Celtic Park for the next generation. The next two years could be our last opportunity to consider this action for a very long time.
Right now, I give Celtic a 70% chance of winning the league this season (3% higher than a year ago). There is work to do, even if Matt O’Riley stays, I am not convinced with midfield, defence or attack options. Clement has his hands full but expect him to make the most of what is available to him.
There is no reason to expect anything substantial from the Champions League; the successful Gordon Strachan era is now a distant memory. What we do have, is abundant options, hard earned over decades.
Celtic Quick News started 20-years ago last week. A few months in, when we were losing on the park and letting the league slip away, I noted we were in the early years of a Generation of Domination. It was totally obvious. One large club in Scotland had a plan to pay its bills, the other was playing casino football and would inevitably crash and burn.
20 years on and nothing has changed. Celtic continue to act strategically, Newco act without a thought for tomorrow, despite John Bennett’s words. Until Newco tell their fans they need to spend less on wages and transfers, and live with coming second to Celtic for a period of years in the hope of an improvement in the medium term, nothing will change. We will lose the odd league and cup, but goodness, this Generation thing is outlasting anything we dared dream of.
Celtic is a great gift to us, enjoy every minute of the season, win, lose or draw.
412 Comments- Pages:
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https://x.com/rsmorrow1964/status/1819398404239220915?t=WbfWi4Gck-AdOOLLkdxG-w&s=08
Huns are revolting…aye
SFTB
Brilliant.
I remember being one of 15,000+ supporters at Celtic Park on a hot summer day to welcome Brendan on day one of his first stint as manager.
We left the stadium that day with hope in our hearts and full of confidence for the immediate future.
When I got home and logged into CQN, imagine my shock when a few regulars — I won’t name them lest I be accused of stalking again — were accusing Peter Lawwell of being livid while sitting next to the new manager on the platform, allegedly because he would cost too much. My abiding memory was that PL couldn’t stop smiling as BR was introduced.
Also, Brendan’s body language was brought into question. They’re body language experts, don’t you know?
My son, who was with me at Brendan’s unveiling, said — These guys need help
Going by today’s read back. They still do.
While I never go into any season with anything more than cautious optimism
and I definitely think we need to up our signing game before we’re properly into the season
, especially if we lose Mo’R, it seems we should be quaking in our boots:-
https://www.ibroxnews.com/2024/08/02/celtic-will-be-shaking-in-their-boots-as-shock-rangers-news-announced-at-ibrox/
The self delusion is typically staggering
TOM,
When I got home and logged into CQN,
AYE BECAUSE THE WI-FI AT CELTIC PARK IS RUBBISH DONT YA KNOW.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND AUGUST 2024 6:19 PM
—————
Cheers Bud. I’m all set for tomorrow. Got the wee Huns to win 2-1. Wishful thinking, but the other lot seem a mess atm.
How do we contribute funds if we are taking part?
😃👍
SAINT STIVS
Correct.
Evening all.
SFTB
SUPERBRU fee sent, picks made, still not giving that mob anything.
Start engraving my name on the wooden spurtle. :)
Good evening from The Railway Tavern in the old home town. I’m here to celebrate a lifelong friend’s 70th birthday bash. We started primary school on the same day.
Should be a good old Celtic, rebel night.
🍺🍺🍺🟩⬜🟧🍺🍺🍺
once more
Dearie me….
CROFTCELT on 2ND AUGUST 2024 4:40 PM
I notice that a highly critical analysis of transfers under Peter Lawwell has now been withdrawn from The Celtic Blog. Anyone know anything about this?
*No surprised as all we seem to get now, no matter how many domestic trophies and huns skelping there is, is Europe Europe Europe, now lets be honest here, apart from the one offs like 2-1 in Amsterdam, 5-0 at home against Sporting Lisbon or Johhny Doyle and Real Madrid, as well as Seville and of course the “wall” inspired win over Barca, we have done very little, and the former only happened after we were unceremoniously dumped out of the Big Cup by Basel thereby dropping intae the UEFA.
Our first European venture occurred in late April 1960 when we were invited to compete in the Anglo-Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup competition, initially hearts, kilmarnock, deidcos and dundee had been invited to represent Scotland, the former 2 were immediately involved in tours of America so pulled out as did the huns, probably thought it was beneath them, clyde and motherwell were then invited and accepted, the uk’s first ever European participants the hibbees who had reached the semis in that inaugural season before losing our the runners up reims, were offered the huns place but they also declined so eventually we were then asked to make up the numbers for the final place.
In the game against sedan where we wore numbered jersey’s for the first time we were gubbed 3-0, incidentally there were 4 future Big Cup winners in our side that night, big Billy, Stevie and wee ten thirty as well as Paddy Crerand.
Anyway our future ventures, glorious as they were, in reality started out with the InterCity Fairs Cup against the holders Valencia 2 seasons later where we were granted a spot due to our heady 3rd place in the League , after being walloped 0-3 in the first leg we tied the 2nd 2-2 due to a Bobby Carroll brace where a young John Clark missed a penalty at the hun end, I can still see my da raging at “why was that wee boy allowed tae take a penalty in a big match like this”, this was the same night that Bobby Craig made his debut arriving at the Central Station at hauf four the afternoon.
This was followed by the Cup Winner Cup the following season where we naively went tae Budapest in the semis holding a 3-0 lead only tae get dumped out 0-4 thanks tae Sir Bob saying before the game that we would play football the Glasgow Celtic way as we don’t play defensive football, next up was an off form Barca where we drew 0-0 at Parkheid the night we all, plus big Tam, saw for the first time a marauding full back with a powerful shot, the jungle loved him and cheered his every attack.
Then Jock arrived and on our first Euro venture with him saw us blatantly cheated art Anfield, lessons were learned that we really had nothing to fear anymore from the “continentals”, as Sir Bob had christened them, and from then on we were a force to be reckoned with until that sickening night when a bunch of Argies led by a similar manager in an Atletico strip literally mugged us and that was our last hurrah as a “Big” side, we are now seen as no different than former winners such as Villa and Nottingham Forrest, oh we have amazing nights when the visiting coaches and players rave about but as far as winning the “Big Cup”, that will never ever happen again in its current format as the game is rigged to suit a handful of countries, and that also includes the World Cup and Euros.
So apart from gaining extra gene tunney by competing in the Champions League we should concentrate on emulating Seville as that’s now our limit, and IMHO that’s also where the mhan fae Macroom also sees us
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The Group monitors performance against the following key
performance indicators (‘KPIs’):
• Football success (refer to page 8 and page 37
Five Year Record);
• Match attendance statistics (refer to page 8, Stadium
and Matchday Operations and page 37 Five Year Record);
• Sales performance per revenue stream (refer to The Financial
Review page 11 and Note 5, Segmental Reporting);
• Wage and other costs (refer to page 11 – 12, Operating
Expenses and page 13, Current Trading and Outlook);
• Capital expenditure (refer to page 12, Property Plant
and Equipment);
• Profit and cash generation (refer to page 13, Current
Trading and Outlook);
• Shareholder value (with weekly share price reporting
disseminated within the business); and
• Player trading (refer to page 12, Net Player Trading).
* Staying just ahead of the Rangers
The key components of these KPIs are discussed on the
following pages.
The Group operates a 5-year plan which is updated and reviewed on
an annual basis. A detailed budget is prepared and approved by the
Directors in advance of each trading year. The actual performance
of the Group is then monitored against the budget with particular
emphasis against the key performance indicators as noted above.
I see those pesky Brendan AI videos have started….he’s obviously delighted with the squad,back up striker doubtful for Sunday, Ralston, Welsh,Scales,Taylor….Nawrocki, Lagerbielke, Mikey Johnston still hanging around…..
Life is good👍
Great presser by Brendan Rodgers today, the guy just gets better, a testament to his approach and attitude.
That’s why this group of players are getting better, that’s why, as we seen in the USofA, they have a great approach and attitude.
SAINT STIVS @ 6:03 PM,
“it is not what he [Brendan Rodgers] said …………… it was what he didnt say ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
lol,”
It’s funny that
When I read the State of the Club Report, summer 2024 this morning, I thought it is very interesting what wasn’t said about our Manager and his phenomenal contribution last season.
Each to their own eh!
Hail Hail
Melvin Udall
Paying £10 for Superbru
Details of how to pay to the Walk With Shay account are:-.
By cash in person to CRC at Celtic Park (CQN Corner)
By bank transfer to
Account name: Walk With Shay
Account number: 15326765
Sort code: 80-22-60
Bank: Bank of Scotland
Ref: Enter your name or moniker (not CQN predictor, as we cannot identify you!)
By paypal to walkwithshay@yahoo.com (please send as gift, so prize money pot is not diminished by paypal charges).
——————————
If you’re in the Bauhaus tomorrow night- Myself and Marc (crc) will be there from 6.30 onwards. We’ll be a large group of blokes age range mostly 45+ or++++. Come and say hello and you can give Marc the £10 personally.
Ralston, Welsh,Scales,Taylor….Nawrocki, Lagerbielke, Mikey Johnston still hanging around…..
Life is good👍
————-
do they all have celtic contracts ?
would you prefer they were all gone already ,
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 2ND AUGUST 2024 6:50 PM
—————
Enjoy Tom!
Sounds like a very good night in the offing. 😃👍🍻🍷
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND AUGUST 2024 7:36 PM
—————
Cheers. Will sort that later or tomorrow. 😃👍🇮🇪🏆🌑⚽️
High Anxiety
Jeez, how many times can Shortie recycle that Cement story?
It’s on its third iteration.
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on 2nd August 2024 7:45 pm
Jeez, how many times can Shortie recycle that Cement story?
the fourth version –
honey, our cement has got aerated bubbles in it
SS- Yes ,Brendan obviously doesn’t rate the 2 CBs,Ralston, Welsh,Scales are Aberdeen/Hibs standard for me,Taylor I like,great attitude, great pro around the place,I would keep, but as I posted earlier, we have the money, and need upgrades in defence especially, if you are quite happy staying ahead of the huns,via minimum spend,carry on
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on 2nd August 2024 5:59 pm
That was a most enjoyable read.
It is unfortunate that those to whom it was mainly directed will not be affected in the slightest.
C`est la vie.
Good evening, have we signed any new players yet.
Now didn’t think so.
Onto Sunday and the start of our TREBLE.
Another year of pistol peter the liar and his hun loving criminal board Lackies.
D. :)
!!Bada Bing!! on 2nd August 2024 7:56 pm
I am quite happy that these players have all won before and can do it again.
The huns cant beat them,
upgrades for europe, aye sure, but that will be concluded at end of the month,
meanwhile, all of these players might have time on the pitch on sunday, support them.
ours will be the team in green and white hoops
HOT SMOKED
A wee tune
Robbie Nevil – C’est La Vie
https://youtu.be/CGtf9QfITQw?si=ctRrjQaHDIm33JSy
Brian
Saint Stivs on 2nd August 2024 8:00 pm
!!Bada Bing!! on 2nd August 2024 7:56 pm
I am quite happy that these players have all won before and can do it again.
The huns cant beat them,
Carry on with that,same as the Board…..watch Ibrox then see what we need to try and do
BelmontBrian on 2nd August 2024 8:06 pm
Thanks for that. A fine wee number.
Cheerio for now.
watch ibrox for what >
?
just to stay ahead of them, utter made up nonsense.
i personally dont believe it for a moment.
every revenue stream on the accounts has grown.
why not let the huns win last years league to keep them afloat last season,
they didnt, it is made up mass stupidy, someone even called up keevins to make that point, sounded like a moon rocket.
DAVID66
Fun Lovin’ Criminals – Scooby Snacks
https://youtu.be/HEMjF2n3-SQ?si=7NaoIYvbEW7ErnqC
Brian
i really need to understand this one, beating them 4 times in a season is just staying ahead of them how ?
could we not just have gifted them the scottish cup at least by playing that back 4.
Dunning – Kruger?
One example might be Frank McAvennie, telling the story (see Icons of Football Series 2:1) of going for a trial with Partick Thistle, where one of his idols, Bertie Auld was the manager. Ten Thirty told Frankie ‘you’re not good enough’ to which Frank replied “You know something, I’m better than all of your team”
Saint Stivs on 2nd August 2024 8:11 pm
watch ibrox for what >
?
just to stay ahead of them, utter made up nonsense.
i personally dont believe it for a moment.
every revenue stream on the accounts has grown.
ST prices have increased, 4 strips a season has helped ‘growth’ ,the forward and future planning of this Club is nil.
Most of ST holders will be the best part of 1k,inc CL money,but ‘Chairman Big Peter’ said in his opening statement at the AGM,that they were very aware of the cost of living crisis (obviously not affected any of them), and everything increased on the back of record breaking money,rinse and repeat. If the manager walked tomorrow, I wouldn’t be surprised and would back him 100%.
We are just customers to support the share price
Nite all
Early rise ‘ra morra.
Stay classy,
Tell your friends, they’ll like it..
It’s good to be a Tim.
HH
Brian
Who would win a fight between…
The Dunning Kruger Bhoys and the Very Hard of Thinking Brigade
Hail Hail
Chairbhoy
Surely they’d both be punching themselves in the face and the winner would be the one who damages themselves the most?
Would agree completely with the need for significant improvements in and around celtic part. Padestrianise the envious behind and below the North, West, East, zone off from parking, add street furnisher to pedestrian area, I.e. concrete seating, tables, fanzone, kids crazy soccer, games area, dot some food stalls in it etc.
Tarmac the coach/ car Parks, perhaps add a carpark. Landscape all areas so that it’s got pleasant surrounding. If no hotel, then get plans together for an official celtic bar, restaurant, shop, cafe, museum (interactive and make it more than just football, actually have large section about the origins of the club, the people, the challenges the formation and the victories etc).
Inside stadium, get murals on the walls of the stadium, focus on the supporters, their role in formation of club, helping to build the stadium, the celts for change etc, the great players achievements. Better facilities, toilet, food stalls, more standing areas etc. Move office workers out and improve services to supporters in the stands.
If celtic done everything I said it would like cost about 20 million tops. There is no excuse.
Redeveloping the south stand would require a bit of club capital and investors capital. None of these improved stadiums you see are build from club’s saving ffs. You don’t just go out and buy a house outright ffs.
None of this means we can’t sign players.
SFTBS @ 9:19 PM,
Maybe they’d knock some sense into themselves….
Hail Hail